By Julius Nsikak
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South-South Zone, has urged the Federal Government to urgently address the appalling condition of federal roads and highways, improve other critical infrastructure, and reinforce security measures to protect lives and livelihoods in the region.
The call formed part of the resolutions adopted at the Zone F Executive Council (ZEC) Meeting of the Union, held from Wednesday, 20th to Friday, 22nd August 2025, at the NUJ Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The session was presided over by the Zonal Vice President, Comrade Opaka Dokubo.
After extensive deliberations on challenges facing the South-South, the media industry, and the welfare of journalists, the council commended the Rivers State Government for sustaining peace and fostering an environment conducive to lawful social and economic activities. It also applauded the cordial working relationship between the NUJ Rivers State Council and the state government.
The council further hailed the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for its ongoing clean-up of Ogoniland and its livelihood restoration initiatives. It, however, appealed to the Federal Government to replicate similar interventions in other oil-impacted communities across the Niger Delta.
On professional ethics, the ZEC directed state council chairmen and secretaries to immediately revalidate the membership of journalists under their jurisdiction as part of a renewed drive to curb quackery in the profession.
The communiqué strongly condemned the indiscriminate use of NUJ’s name for unauthorised awards by individuals and groups, warning that defaulters would henceforth face severe sanctions. It stressed that any activity carried out under the insignia of the Union must conform strictly to the NUJ constitution.
Other resolutions included congratulating the NUJ Deputy National President, Comrade Ambimbola Oyetunde, on her elevation as Lagos State Bureau Chief of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and commending South-South state governors for their support of NUJ councils in their domains. The council equally appreciated the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, for appointing members from the zone into the Union’s Central Working Committee (CWC).
The meeting concluded with a charge to council leaders to ensure that members uphold the highest standards of professionalism, which the communiqué emphasised remains “the hallmark of excellent journalism practice.”
The Rivers State Council of the NUJ successfully
hosted the three-day session.
